
Since 4K-resolution screens became a thing on Notebooks in 2014, their worth was up for discussion. At the time there, was not much advantage outside picture editing, with very little 4K content accessible and applications that could not scale correctly for a higher resolution.
And then there were also the more significant hardware requirements to play video or games in 4K, so that you were not just paying to get a great display, but for pricier parts too.
A lot of this is different now, as costs have been reduced, and content can be found on all manner of streaming sites; elsewhere support has also been enhanced.
Nonetheless, there are lots of skeptics out there who are not buying into having more pixels on a notebook. If you are one of these people, we have put together a list of the best 4K laptops and why you may want to move to 4K with your next purchase (and one important factor you may want to consider too).
More Comprehensive Gaming on 4K Laptops
There are far more games that support premium 4K play today than there were in 2014. Even though you'll still require a powerful laptop to play them quickly at the correct resolution, what you will get is a fantastic, immersive viewing experience.
Are you going to miss out on anything by playing full HD? More than likely no, but HD won’t create those amazingly sharp details that you get while playing on your best 4K laptop.
Visual Clarity in 4K Laptops
I've yet to encounter a present 4K notebook that didn't make regular tasks have an extra sheen to them. All those additional pixels make for flatter, smoother text and images.
Additionally, because most essential programs' ports can scale nowadays without coming out bad, you can really appreciate having the higher resolution. On more prominent notebook displays, the higher resolution also means more space for applications’ user interfaces.
Photo and Movie Editing in 4K
Authentic color support is critical for retouching and using a 4K screen for picture editing is essential for analyzing the beautiful details of high-resolution pictures.
But while a 4K resolution is a beginning point, you're going to want to start looking for the screen's pixel density: The higher it is, the greater detail you will be afforded when editing.
Back in 2014, many customers did not have access to a camera powerful enough to take advantage of 4K. Nowadays, most premium smartphones can take 4K, together with DSLR, interchangeable lenses and smaller video cameras such as Go Pros, you have a wealth of options at your disposal.
And if you are going to take any photos in 4K, then you may wish to actually view such content in that resolution.
It's also worth mentioning that if you are doing CAD or desktop engineering for example, the additional pixels on the best 4k laptop can make all the difference.
Premium Features for 4K Users
Maybe it's because you want a touchscreen, the best-looking images, the processing muscle or other qualities that will provide you with enough tech to last into the future. Or perhaps it's just the layout you are after.
Whatever the reason for going 4K, sometimes the only means to get exactly what you need is to really go all out for a ‘premium’ laptop model, which nowadays usually means a 4K screen.
Something such as Razer's Blade Pro, for example, has a fantastic layout and top-notch images, however, you can access it with a 3,840 x 2,160-pixel touchscreen – a fantastic combination indeed.
4K Just Feels Good to Have
OK, this plays to the advertising of high-res notebook displays, but a beautiful high-resolution screen can be something that simply is impressive to look at.
You don’t need to tell everyone of course, but if someone is wowed by the crispness of your display or is really enjoying the sharpness of your pictures, there is no reason to shy away from pointing out it is 4K.
4K Battery Life Can Be A Problem
Although there is a wealth of reasons to invest in 4K, one thing we have to point out is the caveat when it comes to dealing with battery life. It is unlikely you are going to do any activities for a huge amount of time with any notebook computer anyway; however, higher-resolution panels can really set a hurt on battery runtime.
According to our tests, Dell's XPS 13 (equipped with its QHD touchscreen) only runs for about 8 hours. If you opt for just the HD version, you’ll get over 10.5 hours of battery life. It is the same for the HP Spectre x360, which we found had 8 hours with the 4K version, but up to 16 hours with a standard HD screen.
You should probably take the price into consideration too. There are many more 4K Panels available today than there were in 2014.
While that has pushed down the price somewhat, 4K laptops definitely require you to put down a little more change for them. For many people, a complete HD notebook display delivers the ideal balance between clarity, power, and cost.
The Best 4K Laptop - Reviews
- 8TH GENERATION QUAD CORE CPU: Intel Core i7-8550U (1.8 GHz, up to 4 GHz, 8 MB cache, 4 cores) four-way processing 1.80...
- UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE, Windows 10 PROFESSIONAL 64 BIT Pre-Installed by HP, : 16 GB LPDDR3-2133 SDRAM (onboard), Windows...
- SUPERIOR SPEED and NETWORKING: Fast Data Access with 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Intel 802.11b/g/n/ac (2x2) Wi-Fi and...
Upgraded to 8th-gen Intel Core chips complete with pen, the HP Spectre x360 is a top of the range notebook with a long-lasting battery, And definitely in the running for the best 4K laptop.
Introductory 13-inch settings begin at around $1,130. This gets you specs such as a Core i5-8250U, a 360GB SSD and plenty more. If funding permits, you can nab yourself a real multi-tasker with a Core i7 CPU and 16 Gigabytes of RAM.
Bottom line: For the very best overall 4K notebook for Most folks on the market, go with all the HP Spectre x360.
It’s worth noting that 15-inch Spectre x360 with 4K is more expensive but includes the choice of a dedicated GPU.
In addition to powerful hardware (8th-generation Intel Core i7, 16 Gigabytes of RAM and more, the HP Spectre x360 has an impressive all-metal shell readily available in organic silver, black ash silver, or light rose gold.
The Spectre is a portable little notebook that comes complete with a digital pen, letting you use it wherever you wish to take it.
Use it like a tablet computer or stand it up in regular laptop mode. Whichever way you use it, it is light and thin at only 2.78 lbs (1.26kg).
The metallic keyboard and big touchpad work well with the design, and the battery ought to get you through a day of work.
Regarding the 13.3-inch, 4K screen, HP did a fantastic job of keeping the surrounding bezel to a minimum, while leaving enough space on top to use an IR camera compatible with Windows Hello.
Inputs include two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a USB-A 3.1, plus a 3.5-millimeter audio jack.
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- Consumer Alert: Most users do not need a license to operate this wireless microphone system. Nevertheless, operating...
Dell’s upgraded XPS 13 9370 has gotten rid of the 1800p screen in favor of a 13.3-inch 4K screen. High-resolution configurations begin at roughly $1,600, which comes with an eighth-gen Intel Core i5 and 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, plus a 256GB SSD.
This is a pricier 4K entry point compared to the HP Spectre x360, but this laptop looks great. It is about 2.68 lbs (1.21kg) and can be between 0.3 and 0.45 inches (7.8-11.6mm) thick as a result of the the style.
Ports include a micro SD card reader, USB-C 3.1, two Thunderbolt 3 interfaces, along with a 3.5millimeter audio jack.
All in all, the Dell XPS 13 is a great 4K laptop, with a range of features sure to make any tech lover happy.
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Despite having interior a quad-core Intel Core, 16 Gigs of DDR4 RAM, & 512GB SSD, along, the 14-inch 4K Razer Blade (approximately $2,200) is just 0.70 inches thick.
The slender body features Thunderbolt 3, two USB-A 3 ports, and HDMI 2.0 interfaces, along with the computer keyboard & touchpad, which are both comfy whether you are gaming or simply getting some work done.
If you would prefer a 4K notebook that could run the best games available on the industry at this time, this is it.
If you’re looking to make sure all your gaming sessions are on point, make sure you check out the Razer Blade.
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- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U mobile processor; 8GB system memory; 256GB solid state drive (SSD); Intel UHD Graphics 620
- 13.9" touch screen for hands-on control; 1920 x 1080 native resolution. IPS technology. LED backlight.
- Windows 10 Home operating system; Built for Windows Ink, Lenovo's Active Pen 2 stylus included
The Yoga 920 is among the nicest convertible notebooks, because of the all-metal body, exceptional watchband hinge, and amazing 13.9-inch 4K signature screen.
High-res configurations begin at roughly $1,400, such as the eighth-gen i5 Intel Core CPU, 8 Gigs of DDR4 RAM, as well as a 256GB SSD.
There are loads of different ways you can configure the Yoga 920, with costs going up accordingly.
You will receive about ten hours of life with the battery, regardless of its size (approximately 0.54 inches thick), and you are still getting two Thunderbolt 3 interfaces, a USB-A 3.0 jack, along with a 3.5millimeter audio jack.
Bottom line: To get an amazing convertible notebook with a 4K screen, take a look at the Lenovo Yoga 920.
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- Intel Core 7th Generation i7-7820HQ Processor (Quad Core, up to 3.90GHz, 8MB cache,45W)
- 15.6 Inch UltraSharp FHD(1920x1080) Wide View Anti-Glare LED-backlit Premium Panel Guarantee
- 32GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM (2X16GB)
This is your notebook if you need plenty of power.
Dell’s Precision 5520 is built with an Intel Core i7 chip or an Intel Xeon v6 processor and runs a clock rate up to 4.0GHz (up to some 1TB SSD).
The Precision also has 32 Gigs of DDR4 RAM. For anybody working with many applications, there is the option of a NVIDIA Quadro GPU and 4 Gigs of GDDR5 VRAM.
On top of this, the hardware has a 15.6-inch, 4K IGZO Touchscreen for an exceptional image, and Dell has been able to get rid of most of the bezel surrounding it.
That fact of the matter is if you’re looking for something with plenty of muscle to help you blow get through your workload, then the Precision 5520 is just what you need.
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- 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H Processor (9M Cache, up to 4.1 GHz, 6 Cores)
- 15.6'' 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Touch display | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti with 4GB GDDR5
- 32GB DDR4-2666MHz, 2x16GB Memory | 1TB PCIe Solid State Drive
The Dell XPS 15 includes a lot of ports to hook up your Apparatus, such as HDMI 1.4, two USB-A 3.0, USB-C Thunderbolt 3, along with an SD card reader.
Inside is an Intel Core i7 chip with a clock rate of up to 3.8GHz, 32GB of RAM, as well as 1TB SSD. To assist with images, there is 4GB of VRAM.
The 15.6-inch, 4K IGZO touchscreen reaches edge to edge, and a significant battery keeps you operating for approximately eight hours. The 4K configurations begin at roughly $2,000.
To get a Fantastic 4K laptop ideal for photo editing, take a look at the Dell XPS 15.
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Upgraded to 8th-gen Intel Core chips complete with pen, the HP Spectre x360 is a top of the range notebook with a long-lasting battery | ||||
the Dell XPS 13 is a great 4K laptop, with a range of features sure to make any tech lover happy | ||||
No products found. | No products found. | If you’re looking to make sure all your gaming sessions are on point, make sure you check out the Razer Blade. | No products found. | |
nicest convertible notebooks, because of the all-metal body, exceptional watchband hinge, and amazing 13.9-inch 4K signature screen. | ||||
This is your notebook if you need plenty of power. |
2018 Dell XPS 9570 Laptop, 15.6" UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Touch...2018 Dell XPS 9570 Laptop, 15.6" UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Touch... "> | ![]() | A lot of ports to hook up your Apparatus, such as HDMI 1.4, two USB-A 3.0, USB-C Thunderbolt 3, along with an SD card reader. | Shop now at Amazon.comBuy on Amazon " data-css="tve-u-166f73e93d5"> |
The Best 4K Laptops – What Do You Think?
The XPS 13 9370 is a fantastic option for the best 4K laptop, but the HP Spectre x360 is better for more people because of the intuitive design.
Dell's XPS 15 is fantastic for photography, and the Precision 5520 is an excellent workstation. All of our picks have their good and bad points – it’s up to you to pick!